Signature or Gentle Guided Walking: Which is right for me?

HF Holidays is big on offering our guests freedom, flexibility, and a huge amount of choice. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a complete newcomer, our fabulous selection of walking holidays ticks the boxes for all. Read on to find out more about two of our most popular holiday styles - signature guided walking and gentle walking – and decide which is right for you.

Both signature and gentle walking offer up to three guided walks per day. And best of all, we take care of all the details and planning. You’ll get to enjoy all the joys that walking brings, including natural wonders, stunning views, fresh air, and more.  

The only difference between the two is that our gentle walks are designed to offer easier routes that minimise gradients and rough and uneven terrain. Additionally, one of the walks will be no more than five miles long. 

Whether you’ve booked a signature or gentle walking holiday, you’ll be staying at one of our characterful country houses. Cherished for their sense of warmth and one-of-a-kind charm, they provide the perfect backdrop to your holiday. Set just a stone’s throw away from some of the UK’s most treasured national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you’re never far from wow-worthy walks.   

For those up to the challenge, some of our country houses are situated in areas with more challenging terrain. Therefore, gentle walking holidays only depart from 10 of our 16 country houses.  

You can still expect the same quality service from us, no matter which walking holiday you’re booked on. Each of our country houses assure well-appointed guest rooms (Classic, Premium, or Superior), licensed bars, and comfortable lounges.   

Designed for walkers, every country house has a boot and drying room. There’s also our bespoke Discovery Points complete with local area maps and route guides for those deciding on a self-guided walk.  

Additionally, you can expect full-board as standard. From a cream tea on the day of arrival to a hearty breakfast before you leave, you’ll be well fed with three-course dinners and hand-picked packed-lunches throughout your trip.  

Whether they’re navigating through challenging terrain or leading the way on a more relaxed jaunt, our leaders guide you on some of the very best walks the UK has to offer. You may find that the very same HF Holidays Leader takes charge on a grade 1 walk as well as a grade 6 walk. Read more about our walking grades here.

Every HF Holidays Leader undergoes a rigorous assessment of their countryside knowledge, navigational skills, and has an immeasurable passion for the great outdoors. So you can relax in the knowledge that you are safe in hands. 

We pride ourselves on fostering a welcoming atmosphere at our country houses, where our friendly staff will make you feel right at home. Many of our guests love staying with us because it gives them the opportunity to interact with fellow lovers of the great outdoors.

You’ll be able to chat to fellow guests and meet our HF Holidays Leaders in a relaxed setting to learn more about the local area. Dinner is an equally sociable affair where you can swap stories from the day’s walk.